Depart

"Aunt Hu, what if the supervisor bends the law for personal gain? What would Purple Cloud Palace do? Will it affect Aunt Hu if you just give me the token like this?"

"Xiao Ming, don't worry, it won't affect me. Purple Cloud Palace values talent above all else. If the supervisor brings in talented individuals, he will be rewarded. However, if he brings in incompetent people due to bending the law or simply bad luck, he can only watch enviously as his colleagues make progress," Hu Ling explained patiently.

"Also, people can directly go to Purple Cloud Palace to get the token. They also set up a selection stage near the sect for people who were not selected by the supervisor for whatever reason or simply because the supervisor doesn't come to their place, like some small villages."

Hearing Hu Ling's explanation, Lei Kongming understood that as long as you have some talent, you can easily get the token either from the supervisor or directly from Purple Cloud Palace. It also made him realize that the real test would begin in the next stage of the trial.

"Aunt Hu, when do I have to take the token to Purple Cloud Palace? What are the next steps?"

"You have to reach Purple Cloud Palace within 10 days, so you still have 9 days left, including today. As for the test, there are two stages remaining: one will test determination and the other will test your character. Specifically, how they will conduct it? I don't know as it changes every year."

Lei Kongming fell into deep thought when he heard that the test changes every year. It showed that the sect is very serious about this and doesn't have trouble spending manpower on it.

"Aunt Hu, how was it conducted in previous years?"

"The previous year? Hmm, it was pretty interesting. To check determination, the sect asked everyone to just sit on the ground, and then an elder blew air over all the participants."

"Just blew air?" Lei Kongming was surprised because he didn't think the test given by the sect would be this simple.

Hearing Lei Kongming's question, Hu Ling pursed her lips, and the corners of her mouth twitched.

"The wind also carried the sword Qi, causing most of the participants to end up sitting naked on the ground because the sword Qi in the wind destroyed their clothes."

Lei Kongming: "....."

"Really? Aunt Hu?" asked Lei Kongming as the corners of his mouth started twitching.

"Yes, it was pretty hilarious. If not for Elder Su, who separately conducted the trial of female participants. The chaos may have been even bigger."

"...."

By this point, Lei Kongming had asked everything he could think of, so his attention was drawn towards Lei Shilong and Lei Longwei, who were eating melon seeds with relaxed expressions. It also made him realize that Lei Longwei already knew about the token, but he still talked about writing letters to him which was probably just to tease him.

After some pleasant talk, Lei Kongming decided to return to his courtyard and make some preparations before going to Purple Cloud Palace. He also wanted to say goodbye to his parents and other elders before leaving.

...…

Lei Kongming is currently seated in a carriage with Lei Longwei, pulled by two strong horses. These are not ordinary horses, but Qi-refining beasts typically reserved for elders. However, due to the Purple Cloud Palace trial, the clan has permitted them to use these horses.

After bidding farewell to his parents and the elders of the clan, Lei Kongming and Lei Longwei departed the next morning. There were also a few other members of the clan heading to the Purple Cloud Palace to participate in the next step of selection, but they had already left early. Thus, at this time, only Lei Kongming and Lei Longwei were using the carriage.

At this time, he is wearing a second-grade full-body soft leather armor that attracts envious glances from Lei Longwei from time to time. Lei Kongming specifically asked his parents for this armor after hearing about the previous year's test, where the Purple Cloud Palace used Sword Qi Wind.

There were mainly two reasons for this. Firstly, due to the Black Dragon Immortal Arts, he is still unable to use a space ring. If, by any chance, his clothes are destroyed during the test, the Black Dragon Immortal Arts will be exposed, which would be very dangerous for him. In his opinion, if the Purple Cloud Palace were to discover the Black Dragon Immortal Arts, it would not be him going to the Purple Cloud Palace, but rather the Purple Cloud Palace coming after him.

The second reason is that whenever he thinks of his clothes being destroyed or removed, he remembers what happened at Rabbit Burrow in Jade River Mountain, which left him with a psychological shadow. Now, he will not remove his underwear even when taking a bath.

"Brother Kong, your parents really treat you very well. You already had a second-grade sword, and now they've even given you a second-grade armor."

"Brother Long, although I am using this sword and armor, they still belong to the clan. They were not given to me for free, the clan expects me to obtain resources to support the clan once I have enough strength."

"Why did I only receive a sword from the clan while you have received both a sword and armor?"

"Oh? That's because I am stronger than you," replied Lei Kongming with his signature teasing smile.

"Lei! Kong! Ming! Why don't we compete? It will become clear who is stronger and who is weaker."

"Alright, alright, it's little Long who is stronger," said Lei Kongming while waving his hand.

"Lei Kongming! The Patriarch already held a Guan Li ceremony in the morning on the day you exited your seclusion. In fact, the ceremony had just ended an hour before you came to my father's courtyard. So, now I am also considered an adult, even according to the clan rules."